“After all these years, and with church restorations despite war, we say that Christian faith remains constant and stronger than all circumstances,” said Ismail, a believer from Iraq who survived the so-called Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. In a recent episode of SAT-7 ARABIC programme You Are Not Alone, Ismail shared the harrowing story of how he experienced torture and […]
Standing in the gap: daily prayer for Iran
As conditions in Iran remain deeply unstable and people across the country are grieving and traumatised, SAT-7 PARS has launched a new daily initiative to support viewers with much-needed presence, prayer and solidarity. From this week, Iranian viewers are invited to join Standing in the Gap, a daily, participatory prayer and intercession gathering held online via Zoom. The one-hour sessions […]
A prayer from an Iranian Christian
As reports continue to emerge from Iran about the scale and brutality of the recent crackdown on protesters, we share this moving prayer from an Iranian viewer outside the country… “O God, just as the night seemed to be approaching its end and the light of the dawn was overcoming the night, we have heard horrifying news… The extent of […]
Dari learning programme brings help and hope to Afghans
Across Afghanistan, formal schooling is restricted or inaccessible for millions. But families and small communities are accessing literacy and learning in their homes, villages and shared spaces through SAT-7 PARS programme Sun of Hope. “Our children do not attend school,” writes one viewer from Afghanistan. “Previously, I used to send them to local religious leaders to learn reading and writing […]
Supporting viewers in Iran as protests spread
Live programmes on SAT-7 PARS are offering hope and intercession for the people of Iran as protests continue to spread across the country. The channel went live across all its platforms on Monday (5 January) with Towards the Light, a special program in response to the situation, which featured biblical reflections, worship and prayers for different groups of people in […]
Sharing hope and faith with wounded children from Gaza
Six-year-old Omar was orphaned and lost an arm when his home in Gaza was bombed. Teenager Amir lost relatives and fingers on his hand in a blast that left him trapped for 24 hours. The two youngsters, who are both receiving medical treatment in Lebanon, were invited to SAT-7’s Beirut studio to take part in a moving Christmas special of […]
Persian festival points to Christ’s light in darkness
In popular imagination, Christmas often seems distinctly “Western”: snow and spruce, cards and carols, fireside fruitcake. Traditions and imagery that are soundly rooted in Victorian Europe. But for Persians, the symbolism of an ancient eastern festival that celebrates light overcoming darkness resonates powerfully with the message of Christmas. Yalda’s Eve (21 December), or Shab-e-Yalda, which marks the winter solstice, […]
Empowering the next generation of storytellers
In a region where young people often feel unheard, SAT-7’s Youth for an Enabling Society (YES) project is empowering them to create and showcase their own stories through its internship training scheme and youth film festival, which has been attracting national media attention. The internship scheme, involving participants from Egypt, Syria and Sudan, culminated last week with a graduation ceremony […]
Christians consider future in Holy Land after ceasefire deal
After two years of war, Christians who have been sheltering inside Gaza’s churches are considering their future in the Holy Land following the ceasefire deal. SAT-7 ARABIC’s You Are Not Alone programme spoke to Elias al-Jalda from the Holy Family Church in Gaza as many displaced by the conflict started returning to what remains of their homes. The United Nations […]
Bringing hope to young people in Iran
“People are hopeless; they don’t know what to do. They finish school but they can’t get jobs; they can’t live their lives – many people try to commit suicide. Some try to get out of Iran but that can be even harder, having to start a new life somewhere else. We try to encourage people to hold onto faith, and […]